Leading Article: Universities care

It is a sign of how much universities are changing that they take significantly more young people who have been in local authority care than they did four years ago – up from 1 per cent in 2004 to 6 per cent today.

Some universities, such as Edge Hill and Bradford deserve particular congratulation. And, now even Oxford is jumping on the bandwagon – though its efforts are to do with mentoring, linking students and young people in care, rather than admitting students who have been in care. Alan Johnson's decision as education secretary to put the issue on the agenda has finally borne fruit.